Suit for aviators.



Patented July 16, 1918.

F. M. SAMPLE.

SUIT FOR AVIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1917.

Patentd July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A a W .9 o H 1D STATES'PATEN FRED M. SAMPLE, OF JACKSONVILLE,'OBEGON.

SUIT FOR AVIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16,1918.

Application filed March 20, 1917. Serial No. 156,160.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Faun M. SAMPLE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Jackson and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suits for Aviators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying air to aviators when making flights at high altitudes or to travelersaviator or other person using the helmet is subjected to normal atmospheric conditions the helmet may be left open and yet may be readily and quickly closed when a high altitude is reached.

Another aim of the invention is to provide in a helmet for the purpose stated, means for supplying air under pressure thereto and means for permitting escape of air from the helmet in greater or less volume depending upon the pressure under which it is supplied and the atmospheric pressure and other atmospheric conditions under which the helmet is worn and used so that by a proper initial adjustment of the apparatus the wearer may be assured at all times of a supply of fresh air at substantially a normal atmosphericpressure.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 isa perspective view illustrating the manner in which the apparatus embody-- ing the present invention is to be employed by an aviator;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus in that form in which the helmet is employed in conjunction with a suit substantially completelyinclosing the body of the wearer of the helmet;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the helmet closed;

Fig. 4: is a view in elevation of the hehnet open;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line (5-6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a view similar Fig. 2 but illus trating the helmet employed in conjunction with a jacket or similar garment but partly lnclosmg the body of the person wearing the helmet.

The helmet embodying the present invention is preferably formed from metal although any other material suit-able for the purpose may be employed and the said helmet comprises two sections, one of which is indicated by the numeral 1 and the other by the numeral 2, and the helmet as a Whole is dome-shaped, being divided transversely vertically to provide the two sections mentioned. At one side of the helmet these sections are hingedly connected, as at 3, and

the section 1 has. its edge, which is to coact with the edge of the section 2, provided with a continuous channel 4 which may be formed by retrorsely bending the edge portion of the said' section 1, as shown in Fig. 3 and indicated by the numeral 5, or the said edge of the section may be thickened and provided in its thickened portion with the channel 4. In any event there is arranged within the bottom of the channel 4 a packing strip 6 and the edge of the section 2 is provided with an off-set flange 7 or with a rib, either as found desirable, designed to seat within the channel 4 and engage at its edge against the packing strip 6 so as to substantially close the helmet in an air-tight manner. It will now be understood that due to the hinge connection 3 provided between the sections 1 and 2, the section 2, which is the front section of the helmet, may be conveniently swung to open or closed position, and in order that when closed it may be so held, it is provided at its side opposite its hinged side with a spring latch 8 designed to engage with a keeper stud 9 upon the section 1 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings,

A flexible air supply hose 10 is connected with a nipple 11 fitted through the back of the section 1 of the helmet and this hose leads from any suitable source of compressed air supply, such, for example, as an air pump 12 conveniently placed within the air craft, or otherwise located depending upon the circumstances under which the apparatus is employed. An escape valve 13 is mounted preferably in the top of the secview. entirely unobstructed, the front section 2 of the helmet is provided. with a'relatively large opening 14, the walls of which are stepped in, asat 15, and hingedly mounted at one side, as at 16, within this openingis a pane 17, of mica, glass, or

other transparent-material, the same being normally held closed'by-means of a latch; 18. It ispreferablethat the pane 17 curved so asto.conform,tothejgeneral cur.v-

ature of the front section v2 of. the helmetand it will be 'understoodthat the same may be mounted in any suitable type of frame and reinforced in any desired manner;

In that form of the invention'shownfin Fig. '2 of thedrawings, the helmet is. 'em- Iconnected front and rear sections constructed to form an air-tight joint between their meeting edges, and a garment constructed to fit the wearer approximately air-tight,

ployed in conjunction with: ausuit substantially completely inclosi'ngthe body of 'thewearer, the suit including a body portion 19 having arms 20 and leg -21 and the, body I portion of the suit is open at the front and 15 designed to be closed by any suitable fastening means, such, for exai'nple, as socket elements 22 atone side of the open front and studelements-23 at the other side of the open front, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In order to render the suit approximately air-tight the arms 20 and legs 21 are provided, respectively, with elastic cuffs 24 and 25 designed to fit closely about the wrists and ankles of the wearer, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The body portion-19 of the suit has a neck opening 26 which is disposed within the lower portion of the helmet, and suitable bolts or other securing elements 27 are fresh air through the I ow i secured through the edge of, the body 19 .atthe neck opening and through the said lower portion of the helmet sections, it beby reference to Fig.

ing observed however, 2 that at and adjacent the'l'atch side of the section 2 these securing elements are omitted so that the front section is connected to the body 19 of the suit only at one side of the open front of the latter and, therefore, when the suit is opened at the front the helmet may be swung open 'or closed without the necessity of loosening or removing any securing elements.

- In 'that'form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 'of'the'drawings, the suit shown in Fig. 2' is replaced by a relatively short jacket 28 having short arms 29; otherwise the apparatus is the same as previously described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising'a helmet consisting of hingedly said garment having a division at its front and being connected at its neck to the lower edge of the rear section of ,the helmet through the entire extent of the same and connected to the forward section of the helmet at only one side of the division in the front of the garment, whereby when the garment is opened the forward section of the helmet may be swung to open position, and fastening devices along the division in the garment, the helmet having an air inlet and a vent.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED M. SAMPLE. [1,. s.] 

